Deonarine on probationary return - Gibson

Narsingh Deonarine's recall to the West Indies Test team to face Australia is a temporary solution to the absence of Marlon Samuels and has arrived despite continued reservations about his fitness, the coach Ottis Gibson has candidly admitted.

Deonarine acquitted himself well as a batsman in Australia in 2009-10, but after Gibson's 2010 appointment the left-hander was not offered a WICB contract due to poor fitness results. He has undergone a fresh round of testing ahead of the first Test of this series at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, and Gibson stated that Deonarine had to show visible improvement over the next three weeks.

"Partly but not entirely. I can only be honest," Gibson said when asked whether Deonarine had reached the fitness benchmark set for him. "He's someone that we need right now, we're not able to have Marlon [Samuels] in the team at the moment because Marlon's gone to the IPL as well and he's a like for like replacement for Marlon, he bowls a little bit of off spin and he bats at six, he's been the leading batsman in the regional tournament just now, and that's the role that he will play.

"With regard to his fitness, it's just an ongoing process for him, one that he has to keep on top of because I'm sure he has seen how the fitness of the team itself has improved significantly in the last 12 months. He will know that eventually if he doesn't make the necessary adjustments to his fitness that the team will move on, as all great teams do, without him.

"I'm sure he will meet those requirements because he's desperate to play cricket. I had a chat with him yesterday and he desperately wants to be here and do his thing and he had some fitness assessments yesterday, we will know the results of them later on and stuff, so hopefully if the message didn't get through in the first instance, hopefully it will get through the second time around."

Australian observers were surprised when Deonarine was discarded due to doubts about his ability to bat for long periods, after a couple of limpet-like displays against Australia in Perth during a series where the 2-0 margin arguably flattered the hosts. Gibson pointed out that Deonarine's strong results in this season's Caribbean regional competition were compelling enough to earn a recall, but had been achieved without the hundreds he expects of his batsmen.

"His quality as a batsman has never been the concern," Gibson said. "It's whether he's able to bat a day and a half, whether he's able to bat the four hours that is required at international level to make a Test hundred. His results will show he's made a lot of runs this year but he hasn't made a first-class hundred.

"At the same time he's been putting runs on the board and in a series where not a lot of batsmen put runs on the board it is hard to ignore his runs. I add to that the fact we can't have Marlon at the moment, so he fills the role that Marlon was playing."

Another batsman facing high expectations against Australia will be the gifted Darren Bravo, who has shown the potential to be the best West Indian batsman of his generation but had a halting introduction to Australian opposition in the ODI matches, losing his place. Gibson said Bravo needed to clear his head and believe in his methods, ignoring the visitors' efforts to corral him.

"He just needs to be himself," Gibson said. "I think sometimes one-day cricket lends itself to you having to go out in circumstances and play shots and maybe up the scoring rate or whatever's the case or consolidate when you've just lost a couple of wickets and stuff like that. Test cricket's very different, he goes out every day and starts over, [he should] just be himself and bat the way he batted, especially in India.

"He made a brilliant hundred in Bangladesh, but in India he was outstanding, and the Indians, from some of the fields that they set for him, it was clear they had obvious plans for him as well and he scored two Test hundreds. So he is somebody that we have a lot of confidence and belief in and somebody that will take us forward over the next couple of years.

"We're not worried about his form, we know what he's capable of and he tends to rise to the big occasion as well, so we're looking forward to seeing him bat over the next couple of weeks."

guess what Kieron Powell has one 1st class century his high score is 132...
Deonarine has seven 1st class centuries his high score is 192 ..

Keiron Powell has 51 1st class innings and Deonarine has 151 ...

so work out the MATH .... does Keiron Powell have a problem playing long innings?

7 from 151, vs 1 from 51 ...
HS 192 vs 132 .....

hmmmmmmmmmm

??????????????

I wonder how a guy with one 1st class 100 in 51 innings with an average of 33, gets a Test call up.... and a guy who tops the regional score boards with a career average of 37, with 7 100's in 151 games gets chastised before he even gets a game?

& FYI, batting at # 6 I would not expect Deonarine to convert many 50's to 100's ....
No number 6 batsman has a high 50 to 100 conversion rate ... not even chanderpaul .

Dummy4
on April 6, 2012, 16:46 GMT

Again our beloved coach shows his lack of man management skills Otis is a decent bowling coach but overall coach, not so much. Maybe good enough for a kiddies cricket team. If Gibson expects to speak freely about players without seriously considering the timing of his utterances, the situation they are in or the effect his words have it is only logical that he should be man enough to handle their attempts at self defense unless he himself is an exponent of the don-manship Professor Beckles spoke so fervently about during his speech last year. Or maybe he is just craving the attention he is getting from the media now as coach that he could not earn during his career as a West Indies cricketer. If & when WICB wake up and fire him i wish him a whole lot of luck getting a job as a International Cricket Coach because he is surely going to need it

Mil
on April 6, 2012, 15:57 GMT

Folks, this is not rocket science.What do you expect if you hire a very mediocre cricketer without the requisite education, training and experience to manage talent ?
His people management and communication skills are on par with Hunt and Hilare.
Is he a selector now?

Derek
on April 6, 2012, 14:11 GMT

@ james.fernando you will find that the ICC does not control EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS. If you and anyone who covet cricketers FREEDOM of choice to earn a living want them to only play for their national sides then the solution is simple. BUY out their IPL contracts. The WI board cannot afford to do this. Narine will earn more money in his first IPL match than the WI board would have paid Sir Vivian Richards in his ENTIRE career. Think it through....

Dummy4
on April 6, 2012, 6:34 GMT

Get off Gibson's back. He was merely telling the truth which is always a good thing. Wonder if he were of European stock, if there would be this minor uproar from the insularists? Bennett King & John Dyson didn't exactly set the coaching league afire in their stints with WI and one hardly heard a wimper. Matter of fact, Dyson & Gayle lost an ODI through a miscalulation and nobody complained publicly. Gibson is quite correct about the message being sent to Deonarine and ALL the players on the team: keep fit, score runs and/or take wickets and you would have nothing to fear. Fail at this and it's 'adios' time. It will not be business as usual. Simple. He's building a young, committed team with a never-say-die attitude as exemplified in the recently-concluded matches. This is quite unlike the ones from the last decade which played much brainless cricket. Gayle, Bravo, Samuels are all loyal to the almighty dollar first and foremost, so why should they be chosen? Tellmuh if yuh kno? Go WI.

Dummy4
on April 5, 2012, 21:58 GMT

DEONARINE IS ONE PLAYER IN WEST INDIES THAT EARNED HIS PLACE IN THE 11....NOT LIKE SOME PEOPLE IN THE TEAM.
GIBSON U JUST TELL DEONARINE THAT HE HAS 1 FOOT OUT THE DOOR ....

Roland
on April 5, 2012, 20:58 GMT

Rally_Windies......well said........you hit the nail on the head

Ali
on April 5, 2012, 18:32 GMT

@ glorious cricket ...
Gibson said Gayle was not fit ... but the IPL doctors said Gayle was fine, and we saw EXACTLY how unfit Gayle was in the 2011 IPL .......

unfit in the Caribbean does not mean "unwell" or "injured" ....
" unfit" - means something else entirely .... Doenarine could score 1000 Test runs this year and still be "unfit" in Gibson's eyes .....

Chanderpaul and Sarawan are also "unfit" in Gibson's eyes ....

Powell and Braithwaith are "fit" to play in Gibson's opinion .....

trevor
on April 5, 2012, 16:49 GMT

Asking Test cricketers to be fit and be prepared to bat long should be par for the course;These young sports men are expected to come fit mentally & physically.They are professionals. Speaking out in public re: Deonarine replacing Samuels due to Samuels being away is another story.Marlon needed to be dropped whether he was available or not;His performance demands it. He plays in a very important position, his responsibilities are steering the lower order of the team[leading by example] with the bat, then doing some bowling. He has faiedl with the bat, looked uncertain at the wicket while not taking charge of the problem at hand.He has had some success with the bowling.Marlon is a senior player, a lot is expected of him. Deonarine will do well, he is gifted, talented and yearned to be back in the Team, Narsingh Deonarine will do well, he Earned his recall, he worked for it. I,m looking forward to seeing him perform for WI again,he is a winner--he fought his way back.Good luck WI.

Dummy4
on April 5, 2012, 16:49 GMT

Gibson talks depends where he is and where he is going ( geographically) reltative to Guyanese.

He talked about Chanders having to toe the Team's policy or something of the sort when they were not playing in Guyana. If Gibson reads these lines, why you did not talk when you were in Guyana? Afraid BJ would have sent you packing out of the country or the GY people would have not even allowed you through the airport?

What is the criteria for selection? batting one and a half day? List the top 5 batsmen in your team who can bat for a day?

Ali
on April 7, 2012, 2:38 GMT

@Randy Bridgeman

guess what Kieron Powell has one 1st class century his high score is 132...
Deonarine has seven 1st class centuries his high score is 192 ..

Keiron Powell has 51 1st class innings and Deonarine has 151 ...

so work out the MATH .... does Keiron Powell have a problem playing long innings?

7 from 151, vs 1 from 51 ...
HS 192 vs 132 .....

hmmmmmmmmmm

??????????????

I wonder how a guy with one 1st class 100 in 51 innings with an average of 33, gets a Test call up.... and a guy who tops the regional score boards with a career average of 37, with 7 100's in 151 games gets chastised before he even gets a game?

& FYI, batting at # 6 I would not expect Deonarine to convert many 50's to 100's ....
No number 6 batsman has a high 50 to 100 conversion rate ... not even chanderpaul .

Dummy4
on April 6, 2012, 16:46 GMT

Again our beloved coach shows his lack of man management skills Otis is a decent bowling coach but overall coach, not so much. Maybe good enough for a kiddies cricket team. If Gibson expects to speak freely about players without seriously considering the timing of his utterances, the situation they are in or the effect his words have it is only logical that he should be man enough to handle their attempts at self defense unless he himself is an exponent of the don-manship Professor Beckles spoke so fervently about during his speech last year. Or maybe he is just craving the attention he is getting from the media now as coach that he could not earn during his career as a West Indies cricketer. If & when WICB wake up and fire him i wish him a whole lot of luck getting a job as a International Cricket Coach because he is surely going to need it

Mil
on April 6, 2012, 15:57 GMT

Folks, this is not rocket science.What do you expect if you hire a very mediocre cricketer without the requisite education, training and experience to manage talent ?
His people management and communication skills are on par with Hunt and Hilare.
Is he a selector now?

Derek
on April 6, 2012, 14:11 GMT

@ james.fernando you will find that the ICC does not control EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS. If you and anyone who covet cricketers FREEDOM of choice to earn a living want them to only play for their national sides then the solution is simple. BUY out their IPL contracts. The WI board cannot afford to do this. Narine will earn more money in his first IPL match than the WI board would have paid Sir Vivian Richards in his ENTIRE career. Think it through....

Dummy4
on April 6, 2012, 6:34 GMT

Get off Gibson's back. He was merely telling the truth which is always a good thing. Wonder if he were of European stock, if there would be this minor uproar from the insularists? Bennett King & John Dyson didn't exactly set the coaching league afire in their stints with WI and one hardly heard a wimper. Matter of fact, Dyson & Gayle lost an ODI through a miscalulation and nobody complained publicly. Gibson is quite correct about the message being sent to Deonarine and ALL the players on the team: keep fit, score runs and/or take wickets and you would have nothing to fear. Fail at this and it's 'adios' time. It will not be business as usual. Simple. He's building a young, committed team with a never-say-die attitude as exemplified in the recently-concluded matches. This is quite unlike the ones from the last decade which played much brainless cricket. Gayle, Bravo, Samuels are all loyal to the almighty dollar first and foremost, so why should they be chosen? Tellmuh if yuh kno? Go WI.

Dummy4
on April 5, 2012, 21:58 GMT

DEONARINE IS ONE PLAYER IN WEST INDIES THAT EARNED HIS PLACE IN THE 11....NOT LIKE SOME PEOPLE IN THE TEAM.
GIBSON U JUST TELL DEONARINE THAT HE HAS 1 FOOT OUT THE DOOR ....

Roland
on April 5, 2012, 20:58 GMT

Rally_Windies......well said........you hit the nail on the head

Ali
on April 5, 2012, 18:32 GMT

@ glorious cricket ...
Gibson said Gayle was not fit ... but the IPL doctors said Gayle was fine, and we saw EXACTLY how unfit Gayle was in the 2011 IPL .......

unfit in the Caribbean does not mean "unwell" or "injured" ....
" unfit" - means something else entirely .... Doenarine could score 1000 Test runs this year and still be "unfit" in Gibson's eyes .....

Chanderpaul and Sarawan are also "unfit" in Gibson's eyes ....

Powell and Braithwaith are "fit" to play in Gibson's opinion .....

trevor
on April 5, 2012, 16:49 GMT

Asking Test cricketers to be fit and be prepared to bat long should be par for the course;These young sports men are expected to come fit mentally & physically.They are professionals. Speaking out in public re: Deonarine replacing Samuels due to Samuels being away is another story.Marlon needed to be dropped whether he was available or not;His performance demands it. He plays in a very important position, his responsibilities are steering the lower order of the team[leading by example] with the bat, then doing some bowling. He has faiedl with the bat, looked uncertain at the wicket while not taking charge of the problem at hand.He has had some success with the bowling.Marlon is a senior player, a lot is expected of him. Deonarine will do well, he is gifted, talented and yearned to be back in the Team, Narsingh Deonarine will do well, he Earned his recall, he worked for it. I,m looking forward to seeing him perform for WI again,he is a winner--he fought his way back.Good luck WI.

Dummy4
on April 5, 2012, 16:49 GMT

Gibson talks depends where he is and where he is going ( geographically) reltative to Guyanese.

He talked about Chanders having to toe the Team's policy or something of the sort when they were not playing in Guyana. If Gibson reads these lines, why you did not talk when you were in Guyana? Afraid BJ would have sent you packing out of the country or the GY people would have not even allowed you through the airport?

What is the criteria for selection? batting one and a half day? List the top 5 batsmen in your team who can bat for a day?

Nigel
on April 5, 2012, 16:42 GMT

While there is reason to berate Gibson re: his statement on Deonarine, I am very sad with the way some of these fans have shown their bare-bottomed insularity in trying to make an argument - and this may be a microcosm of why the team is performing as it has for the last 16 years! We have just won three games and lost three; those that we lost were not even close. I have very little hope in the Test Team being able to deal with Nathan Lyon and Xavier Doherty on fading, fifth day pitches, or for that matter being able to trouble the Aussie line-up without a spin duo on our tracks. Deonarine should play for his batting ability and not his allround potential, as Test cricket requires several specialist batsmen and bowlers, who are complimented with an allrounder and a wicketkeeper batsman. I wish them well, but expect scarce little in regaining the Frank Worrell Trophy...

Ali
on April 5, 2012, 16:41 GMT

@Jupiter law
The people on the sidelines have better regional records than the regional records of the guys playing Test Cricket.

the WICB is picking people who never scored a regional 100 to play Test cricket as batsmen ...
you SAY, that Doenarine's regional form will not translate into runs at Test because it is a higher level .....

BUT .. the WICB thinks that people who can't even score runs or take wickets at the regional level, will do BETTER in the Test arena .......

how can one berate Deonarine who gets dropped from the WI team while averaging 37 in 1st class and 30 in Test... and rate Powell who averages 24 in Tests and 33 in 1st class as an excellent batsman who must be given a time to grow and be part of the team...

further more, Powell has a contract and Deonarine has none ...
and Powell has scored1 century in 51 outings while Deonarine has 7 from 151 outings ... Deonarine's 50 to 100 conversion rate is x2 Powell's

Sisnaraine
on April 5, 2012, 16:33 GMT

THE FACTS SHOULD REMAIN ?
ASTONISHING TO HEAR AN OFFICIAL IN THIS CRICKET WORLD SPEAK
OF A PLAYER TO PLAY IN THE NEXT TEST AS IF HE IS NOT REALY NEEDED.
I THINK GIBSON SHOULD BE GONE THROUGH REHABILITATION COURSE IN LONDON IN HUMAN UNDERSTANDING. THE WEST INDIES BOARD NEED THAT.
THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE SELECTED DEONARINE, AFTER TERRORIZING HIM.
HE WILL NOW HAVE CONCENTRATE ON HIS FITNESS INSTEAD OF HIS BATTING. SOME ONE HELP THE WEST INDIES BOARD ? I COULD REMEMBER THAT GIBSON TOLD CHANDERPAUL TO RETIRE WHEN HE IS STILL IN HIS PEAK AND NUMBER 7 BATSMAN IN THE WORLD. S.N.SINGH USA.

Dummy4
on April 5, 2012, 16:14 GMT

Why did West indies selector recall Deonarine if he is not fit? I guess they want to embarrass him again. The selector picked him when all the players went on strike, send him to get slaughtered in Sri Lanka, dropped him, Pick him for Australia and south Africa couple years ago, even though he did well the drop him for fitness issue, and he is still averaging 35 in test. Gibson, this is how you motivate a player who is recalled, blast him in the media, if he is on probation speak to him quietly. If Samuel(Avg 29 in test and ODI) placed is guarantee in the test team, why did wicb let him play IPL?, Isn't this guy under contract? You always complained about player fitness is that the only requirement, what about their contribution they are making in terms of scoring runs and taking wicket. Fitness alone wouldn't win us games. What about the other players in the squad who got start in the Four Day Games but did not capitalise like Powell, and Braithwaite. Anyone that is recalled is on pro

Matthew
on April 5, 2012, 16:12 GMT

@Trevor Smith - yes lol, but Gayle did that last year and hasn't played for the WI since.

Good that WI have recalled Deonarine who looked a player of some ability when he played in Oz. But it's a pity that they've lost so many talented players to either the IPL, or because their faces don't fit with the coaching staff.

Alistair
on April 5, 2012, 15:58 GMT

@jupiterlaw I'm not certain you know what's the criteria (yardstick) west indies use to in team selection but it's still performance at the domestic level albeit how inept you might consider the standard to be. Maybe the standard they use in your Opinion varies , as no one told tino best he's on probation. you're playing against the Aussies he needed encouragement not crap from Gibson

Dummy4
on April 5, 2012, 15:21 GMT

This man is like Viv Richards they don't like Guyanese, and how come Carlton Baugh is still been considered over Denish Ramdin what the hell is going on with these Selectors are they that stupid or maybe they just don't know the game....Wait a minute they are picking a team to control if you dare say anything your are out like Gayle and Sars

Robin
on April 5, 2012, 14:56 GMT

Mr. Gibson, could sammy bat a day and a half?? Deonarine was the leading runs scorer in the regional tournament but had samuels stayed he would have got a call up? Makes no sense.. Ur damaging the player confidence..

Roland
on April 5, 2012, 14:49 GMT

For those of you who a criticizing WI cricketers for choosing IPL over the WI........take note that a player like Narine works for about 10K a year and has no contract with the WICB................and has been offered 700K for a few weeks of playing in the IPL............what would you do if you were in position?

The WICB has proven itself to be vindictive and full of nepotism, if you look at their list of contracted players you will see the light, so players do not trust them with their future and must look out for themselves.

Sammy has been guaranteed a place on the WI team weather he fails or not unlike other players, so you cannot use him as a benchmark. If you want to use a benchmark, look at the homeless ex-WI players who were interviewed in the last world cup held in the WI. That my friends is the reality of how WI treats its ex players.

ramu
on April 5, 2012, 14:45 GMT

Gibson is a mule! He keep praising Samuels..Samuels should never, ever be picked for West indies again. 11 years and him still cant find form.
Sack Gibson now before the series start!! Gibson was also a third class test player.

Douglas
on April 5, 2012, 14:19 GMT

Gibson once again shows off his lack of managament skill. Setting up Deonarine for failure just like he did to Sarwan. He did the same to the entire West Indies team in the last world cup. The number one requirement for management should be the motivation of whatever resources are available. Deonarine, IF GIVEN the chance, prove him wrong and shut him up.

mahindra
on April 5, 2012, 14:18 GMT

Narsingh will do well. Gibson can do better if he studies John Wright and Gary Kirsten who had successful stints coaching India. What Gibson needs to do is to try and understand what makes the players click which is what made Wright and Kirsten succeed. It is not all about him and his ego. Gayle and Sarwan still have valuable contributions to offer to West Indies cricket. Gibson and the West Indies board must forget their egos and move West Indies cricket ahead.

Mil
on April 5, 2012, 14:18 GMT

What an inspiring leader! What do you expect from a former unsuccessful test cricketer.Credit goes to the WICB for hiring Gibson to demoralize its best cricketers.
He did a great job with his public castigation of Gayle Sarwan and yes, Chanderpaul after the World Cup.It is clear that he is a big fan of Sammy and Samuels.

mahindra
on April 5, 2012, 14:12 GMT

I grew up in Letter Kenny village which is about four miles from the Albion cricket ground where Narsingh and Sewnarine Chattergoon opened the batting for Albion cricket club with great success. Teachers from the Corentyne Comprehensive Secondary School also spoke greatly of Narsingh who showed signs of greatness from his schoolboy days at this school which has also produced Veerasammy Permaul.
Gibson has introduded a very good system of discipline and fitness training which should help Narsingh and his West Indian colleagues to stay focussed. However, I wonder where is the use of psychology by Gibson. Something is wrong with Gibson if players of the calibre of Gayle and Sarwan cannot work with him. He needs to study human resources management which is not rocket science. A good start would be to study John Wright and Gary Kirsten, the former coaches of India. These two worked with players who were very high profile and some would say, not easily disposed to listening to advice.

Dummy4
on April 5, 2012, 14:07 GMT

this shows clearly that the coach is a dictator, he say wat he wanna say so openly an kills the spirit of player.... an wen the players themselves speak out... they are rediculed... badddddd.... who cause Chris Gayle to make that statement it was the remarks of the big bad GIBSON wen the players cam bk from the world cup... same wit shiv he was mad at the coaches remarks!!!! but wen the players respond they are the bad eggs... gibson need to focus on the job at hand not say things openly an degrade a player............ im sure narsingh wil score heavely in this tour... an then his mouth mite otter words of support to players of such calibra....

Vick
on April 5, 2012, 14:06 GMT

User Gibson again with the mind games - instead of showing encouragement he criticizes...I will not be surprise if Deo fails because of the un-necessary pressure put on him by this user

daniel
on April 5, 2012, 13:32 GMT

gibson continues to mess around the guyanese heads as Gayle said. He did that wiith sarwan & chanderpaul. Now is messing around with deonarine who is test average is 35. why doenst he mess around with kieran powell, kraig braithwaithe, marlon samuel & his stooge sammy who only spins the toss as a captain & is afraid to bowl in the power play to preserve his stats. it's time that the guyanese public & all fair minded cricket fans speak out

Kirwin
on April 5, 2012, 13:27 GMT

Wrong choice of words from the coach!!!! He let this batsman know that he was picked as second fiddle only because another player was not able to be there. Not sure what this will do to his mental approach. Hopefully Chanders can coach him out in the middle.

Dummy4
on April 5, 2012, 13:13 GMT

And just what is Deonarine replacing in Test Cricket ? Marlon Samuels ? It does not surprise me that Otis Gibson is making comments such as these. He killed the confidence of one great WI batsman ( Sarwan ) and is on the move to do exactly the same to Deonarine, and many more like him. Ramdin is fit to play for WI, why is he not playing ? Why didn't Bishoo play in any matches as yet ? Since Marlon came back to the WI in Test Cricket, what have he done to justify his place before any-one ? It seems that Otis have an agenda, and the rest of the West Indies' so call executives is giving him a free hand. Chanderpaul, as good as he is, always have to keep this destructive coach at full arms length, and keep watching over his shoulders. Any mistake by him will be his head.

Allan
on April 5, 2012, 12:51 GMT

@BURBON - what you fail to realise is that the WI regional standard and international standard are two different standards, so the fitness levels are different. You say that "for goodness sake the guy is the leading run scorer in the region not to mention the wickets he's been able to snare with his off spin"
The WI regional 4-day tournament when measured against international standard would be considered "curry goat" level. Most of the matches did not last 4 days and 300 runs were enough to win some matches. A lot of the people can't bat or bowl. In fact Deonarine did not have the stamina enough to post a century in any of his matches. If he can't make a century in WI regionals with his present level of conditioning, would he be able to do it at international level? Obviously Gibson does not think he can which is why Deonarine remains on probation.

Sreekanth
on April 5, 2012, 12:42 GMT

@OzWally and others - If you want players to play for country, give them a contract. You don't give them a contract, pay them peanuts and treat them like crap, and then expect them to choose nation over IPL. All the people who are playing in the IPL don't have contracts from the board.

Anthony
on April 5, 2012, 11:50 GMT

I understand folks questioning why these players wouldn't chose country over IPL; however, the West Indies isn't a country. Their home island (Barbados, Jamiaca, Trinidad, etc.) is their country, so they have no allegiance to this concept. That being said, it is a shame the ICC can't actually take control of all aspects of the game. International level cricket should NEVER take a back seat to a domestic competition, but you just need to look at the farce the Champion's League has become to see who really runs the game.

Dummy4
on April 5, 2012, 11:25 GMT

stew Narsingh Deonarine' is a brilliant player and this is how tvey are treating him, he was the leading run scorer with 3 5 iwcket halls too ... and hes 28, gibson has to go plz

The only part of Gibson's comments that was inappropriate was his remark that Deo was a temporary replacement for Marlon. Otherwise, I think he is on the ball. Remember Andy Flower & Samit Patel? You guys want Windies to rise again but you hate when management hold you favourite players responsible for upping their discipline & performance. The coach is right to demand that players be fit. It is asinine to suggest that Gibson shouldn't expect his top batsmen to bat a day & a half. How will we improve if we don't set targets & standards?

Zorina
on April 5, 2012, 11:05 GMT

West Indian cricket leaders never know what to say or when and where it should be said. On the eve of a test against Australia, Gibson issues an ultimatum to Deonarine and praises Samuels who is not on the team. Duh! That is not an incentive to the player but it puts a perceived weakness on the player's part in the public domain

Dummy4
on April 5, 2012, 11:04 GMT

Deonarine is a good player & will not disappoint. A perfect replacement for the woefully out of form Samuels. Guyanese players generally do well in test matches, & the 3 will stand out. WI will be competitive. All the best guys.

Alistair
on April 5, 2012, 10:36 GMT

You know if Deonarine was a Bajan, Ottis Gibson wouldn't have had a problem with his fitness. For goodness sake the guy is the leading run scorer in the Region not to mention the amount of wickets he's been able to snare with his off spin, he couldn't have acquired that just sitting around.Give the young man a break .

Dummy4
on April 5, 2012, 10:12 GMT

WI lost its pride.. due to IPL.. all their best players are now in IPL..
club vs country is now in players hand. I think both ENG and AUS handled pretty well. Other countries not like that. SA shown good on this.. Players like Samuels, Gayle, pollard, narine are all need money more than their country.. God only save Cricket..

R
on April 5, 2012, 10:02 GMT

Is it not funny that the coach questions a recalled batsman instead of offering words of encouragement ? It is easy to understand why West Indian cricket is in the shape it is in now.

Patrick
on April 5, 2012, 8:37 GMT

Bravo is the key batsman for WI, ignoring the cliche. On paper, the side is looking alright, with three batsmen who average around 50 (Bravo, Edwards and Shiv), a capable spinner, an allrounder in Sammy who justifies his place in the team with his bowling alone, and a good variety of pace bowlers.
But you get the feeling that failure is only the introduction of spin away.

Md.Ziaur
on April 5, 2012, 8:24 GMT

It was a good selection to choose and give chance to domestic heros like Narsingh Deonarine . Also happy to see rampual and fast bowler Edwards . barath and braithwate was good enough to have . there was no need to recall Powell . As through out the 4 day tournament and odi series vs australia he failed to show good cricket beside there are asad fudadin played very good cricket scores good runs in domestic game recently and smith was in good touch since BPL . given chance to powell will be a westage try . smith was better player to choose then him or fudadin . Also sarwan has the best od and test avr. till now and he is the exprience line ponting and clark . should have given chance to keep alive in the series . in a long format of the game we need sarwan , nash , chanderpaul , edwards , deonarine . who can stay longer at the picth .

Satish
on April 5, 2012, 6:27 GMT

@james.fernando : True but any team need to contract with its players.. If you see the list of players you mentioned, apart from Narine, all looks limited overs players and the players like Bravo, Malinga are not test fit these days.. See Australian team.. They did hold players to play for them and not IPL.. If the board feels the player is a MUST for the nation, they need to take care of them..

Satish
on April 5, 2012, 6:09 GMT

Deonarine is a far better player than Samuels.. Samuels is not at all in form and his chucking bowling might be useful in shorter format but not much in longer format.. WI should look in at Nash and Deonarine as their No.6 batsmen.. My WI 11 will be : Barath, Brathwaithe, Kirk, Darren, Chanders, Deonarine, Baugh, Sammy, Roach, Edwards, Bishoo.. Roach over Rampaul as he had a measure of the Aussie batsmen before.. Fidel is in good form too.. All the best WI..

Dummy4
on April 5, 2012, 6:06 GMT

a coach curse u did it to sarwan an gayle putting pressure on the man let him play in peace

James
on April 5, 2012, 5:43 GMT

Players are going after money, Chosing IPL and not playing for the national side....
ICC has to do something, or someday we will see players playing only in IPL
What a Insult to Cricket ???

Pollard/Gayle/Narine/Russell/Malinga should not b allowed to play in their National Team.

All Indian Team ... Dhoni's statement its a refreshment to Play IPL, and when they lose outside India, Too many games we play in a year.... ????

These players take rest when playing for national side, and play All IPL Matches.
Sehwag/

Satish
on April 5, 2012, 5:01 GMT

@KeshavSeshadri85 : If u compare WI vs India, you should be really bad.. I am a fan of WI cricke but still, India is in upper half and WI in lower half and you don't need to compare both these teams to start with.. WI being a spirited team beat a No.1 ranked team and drew series - Albeit in home but Aus had dominated WI for more than decade in home too.. WI is a nation full of party and joy and was really happy too see the crowd when they were winning..

Dummy4
on April 5, 2012, 4:59 GMT

so samuels can ignore the tests and play ipl then walk back into the test team (based on gibsons remarks)...talk about hypocrisy!!!!

Dummy4
on April 5, 2012, 4:40 GMT

Apart from Powell & Braithwate, this is a good team selection based on merit. Gayle to me has no commitment to WI cricket. When he is not playing T20`s also, he does not bother to play for Jamaica in the first class tournament. How can he be expected to play test then. Sarwan is doing the right thing by playing FC in England. This will help him to regain his form & fitness & am sure, he has 2-3 years still in him to serve WI cricket. Dwayen Bravo has never been a good test player . Recent ODI against Aussies, his batting was below par & bowling just bunch of full tosses. He is not even good for ODI. WI needs to slowly blood in Pollard, Russel into the test team. All the west for Digicel Test Series.

Dummy4
on April 5, 2012, 4:16 GMT

A candid coach should be open to candid feedback.

Keshav
on April 5, 2012, 4:12 GMT

Really annoying to see people get excited because of a tied ODI series at home. If India had tied an ODI series against Aus at home, would it be a big deal. Hell, India has been routinely (except for 2004-04) beating Aus in test series at home and even drew away. That's 4 series we beat Aus in and one away draw. England have won 3 ashes in that time. The away win in 2011 was extremely significant, but the other 2, not such a big deal when you consider what India managed to do. We routed, decimated and obliterated Aus in 1997. It's a miracle they got away with one test win. So for all India bashers, get some perspective here - Windies drew an ODI series at home against Aus, break out the champagne. We won the world cup (beating Aus, Pak and SL within 10 days) and they drew an ODI series at home. 8-0 or not, India is in far better shape then Windies, SL, Pak, NZ or Eng.

Dummy4
on April 5, 2012, 3:52 GMT

how could wi selectors doing like this
they"ve talented players like gayle,sarwan,bravo
very poor selection smith had scored 67 in warm up match but did'nt take him

Dummy4
on April 5, 2012, 3:05 GMT

Deonarine has it told upfront. It is up to him deliver. If he delivers as he did in the 4 day series, who cares if he scores hundreds. Hundreds are overated. Do you want a steady and consistent 80 or 90 or a 100 every five matches with 1s and 2s in between?

Ram
on April 5, 2012, 2:21 GMT

Ho Hum. As if the Aussies are asleep and are entering this series without a plan.

Basil
on April 5, 2012, 2:21 GMT

What an insult to Deonarine to say he's just a fill in for Samuels. Not only has Samuels got a batting average under 30 but has now given up his position as he has chosen IPL over WI. As far as I am concerned, not being committed or good enough are two reasons why Marlon should never represent WI again.

mohamed
on April 5, 2012, 1:33 GMT

How much West Indies batsman can bat for a day and a half mister Gibson?

No featured comments at the moment.

mohamed
on April 5, 2012, 1:33 GMT

How much West Indies batsman can bat for a day and a half mister Gibson?

Basil
on April 5, 2012, 2:21 GMT

What an insult to Deonarine to say he's just a fill in for Samuels. Not only has Samuels got a batting average under 30 but has now given up his position as he has chosen IPL over WI. As far as I am concerned, not being committed or good enough are two reasons why Marlon should never represent WI again.

Ram
on April 5, 2012, 2:21 GMT

Ho Hum. As if the Aussies are asleep and are entering this series without a plan.

Dummy4
on April 5, 2012, 3:05 GMT

Deonarine has it told upfront. It is up to him deliver. If he delivers as he did in the 4 day series, who cares if he scores hundreds. Hundreds are overated. Do you want a steady and consistent 80 or 90 or a 100 every five matches with 1s and 2s in between?

Dummy4
on April 5, 2012, 3:52 GMT

how could wi selectors doing like this
they"ve talented players like gayle,sarwan,bravo
very poor selection smith had scored 67 in warm up match but did'nt take him

Keshav
on April 5, 2012, 4:12 GMT

Really annoying to see people get excited because of a tied ODI series at home. If India had tied an ODI series against Aus at home, would it be a big deal. Hell, India has been routinely (except for 2004-04) beating Aus in test series at home and even drew away. That's 4 series we beat Aus in and one away draw. England have won 3 ashes in that time. The away win in 2011 was extremely significant, but the other 2, not such a big deal when you consider what India managed to do. We routed, decimated and obliterated Aus in 1997. It's a miracle they got away with one test win. So for all India bashers, get some perspective here - Windies drew an ODI series at home against Aus, break out the champagne. We won the world cup (beating Aus, Pak and SL within 10 days) and they drew an ODI series at home. 8-0 or not, India is in far better shape then Windies, SL, Pak, NZ or Eng.

Dummy4
on April 5, 2012, 4:16 GMT

A candid coach should be open to candid feedback.

Dummy4
on April 5, 2012, 4:40 GMT

Apart from Powell & Braithwate, this is a good team selection based on merit. Gayle to me has no commitment to WI cricket. When he is not playing T20`s also, he does not bother to play for Jamaica in the first class tournament. How can he be expected to play test then. Sarwan is doing the right thing by playing FC in England. This will help him to regain his form & fitness & am sure, he has 2-3 years still in him to serve WI cricket. Dwayen Bravo has never been a good test player . Recent ODI against Aussies, his batting was below par & bowling just bunch of full tosses. He is not even good for ODI. WI needs to slowly blood in Pollard, Russel into the test team. All the west for Digicel Test Series.

Dummy4
on April 5, 2012, 4:59 GMT

so samuels can ignore the tests and play ipl then walk back into the test team (based on gibsons remarks)...talk about hypocrisy!!!!

Satish
on April 5, 2012, 5:01 GMT

@KeshavSeshadri85 : If u compare WI vs India, you should be really bad.. I am a fan of WI cricke but still, India is in upper half and WI in lower half and you don't need to compare both these teams to start with.. WI being a spirited team beat a No.1 ranked team and drew series - Albeit in home but Aus had dominated WI for more than decade in home too.. WI is a nation full of party and joy and was really happy too see the crowd when they were winning..

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